The Dark and the Light

Kidnapped

"I can't do this anymore."

"Do what?"

"This. It's just all too much for me, I can't handle it any longer."

"What? Being a kidnap victim tied to a chair in a creepy basement below the most expensive hotel in all of Italy? Well, sorry but you don't have much of a say in this situation," the muscular Italian that had been keeping an eye on Jericho stated.

"I don't see what the big deal is. All I did was take a picture and your boss decides that I don't deserve to walk free? Can I at least buy a pizza? I'm so hungry!" he whined.

"You were at the most extravagant dinner party of the year not even 20 minutes ago and you're already hungry?"

"Yes!"

"Fine. I'll see what Marco has to say about your patheticness," the Italian said nearing anger.

The clipping of shoes along with the elongating shadow were the only hints Jericho received that the Italian was walking towards the doors they had originally come through. Taking this moment to examine his surroundings, Jericho realized he wouldn't be able to use the view as entertainment for very long.

The room was rectangular in shape and almost completely empty. In the left corner there was a large, brown hamper and above it a laundry shoot. The ceiling was unfinished and had lots of pipes jutting out from it and winding this way and that to various unknown locations. There wasn't much else to look at in the basement and it was completely silent except for the occasional sound of rushing water.

Jericho was sitting in the middle of the room facing away from the doors. He was pretty comfortable except for the ache inside of his belly and the numbness he felt in his right arm from not being able to move it for the past half hour. They had tied him to a folding chair with a full roll of duct tape.

All of a suddenhis chair was spun around with great force causing him to jump in shock.

"This is the fifth time I've been disturbed by you tonight. Who are you and who do you work for?"

"Oh hey Marco. I just want to order a pizza. You can even have some, my treat!"

"Answer my questions!" Marco yelled feeling past peeved.

"Fine. My name is Jericho Peere and I work for myself at a flower store. Now can we order a pizza?"

"Not until you tell me the truth" Marco said while turning around and walking back out the door.

Turning to the left he headed through the tunnel-like hallway towards his makeshift office. Entering the former heating system room, he sat down at the card table where he had the Kodak disposable camera and a laptop set up.

He had been setting up a game plan in his mind when Sonny had come and gotten him.

"Step 1: Send Brock to get the pictures developed. Step 2: Interrogate the spy. Step 3: Fact check him. Step 4: Analyze the information and decide my next move."

RIght as he was about to call Brock, Sonny came in and told him that the spy was asking for pizza.

Taking a moment to massage his head as he let out a long sigh, Marco thought about how he had been expecting a relaxing evening were he watched his daughter get married and drank the night away. But of course, a spy had to show up and make it all about work again. He had even promised his now-son in law that he would put it all aside for his daughter. He would send her on a nice vacation with Leo when they got back to make it up to her.

Picking up his phone he called Brock to have him come get the camera and then get the pictures developed. Once that was taken care of, he waited 40 minutes until Brock returned with them all printed.

The first 20 were of different flowers in Italy. The next 4 were of the flowers in the various fountains around the hotel.

Growling to himself he looked up the man's name online, he started doubting whether this man was actually a spy or just a buffoon. Scrolling down a bit, he noticed a flower shop as one of the results. Clicking on the website a picture of the man popped up. He was squating a bit and had both of his thumbs raised in front of his chest with a large smile on his face. He was wearing tan golfing shorts and a yellow, Hawaiian themed shirt tucked into his pants.

Scrolling down a bit he saw several tabs on the menu bar. Clicking through he saw the different flowers for sale at the store, future plants that will be ready within two weeks, plants he's studied along with facts about them, and flower growing guides.

Closing his laptop, Marco walked back to the room Sonny and Jericho were in and headed straight for the man.

"What's your favorite flower?" Marco asked the man.

"Oh that's a tough one. There are so many wonderful options that I don't think I could just choose one."

"Okay, what's one you like? It doesn't have to be your favorite."

"Juliet Roses are quite lovely."

"Sonny, add Juliet Roses to the list."

"Yes boss" Sonny smartly replied while taking out a notepad and pen.

"They're very expensive. One would make a magnificent gift for any young lady though" Jericho said.

"Where could I find one?"

"I've been trying to find a plant for myself actually. I have been visiting all of the big flower shops and asking anyone who might know where to find one."

"Why are you searching for one?"

"I want to learn more about them and possibly sell them in my shop."

"So why were you here taking pictures and causing a ruckus?"

"I smelled food and saw flowers! I spent all day taking pictures of them. Oh, I wish I could show you the fantastical ones I took pictures of today! But I've seemed to have misplaced my camera..." Jericho trailed off while seemingly searching for it on the ground.

"I took the liberty of printing those off for you."

"Thank you so much! You've saved me from an annoying hassel. Did you also happen to order that pizza I had mentioned earlier?"

"I'll tell you what, how about I send you home with a nice pizza and your pictures"

"Really? That sounds swell, just swell!"